The Memorial Hall - being used by our Long Weekend now, for well over 30 years- has meant that over these years, we've needed to adapt to many changes which have affected the programme that we can offer, and how we use the hall during Great Alne Long Weekend.Under "News" on this link, see how and why the lovely exposed high rafters and purlins on the interior of the originally thatched roof were eventually required to be strengthened for the heavier roof tiles, and hidden behind insulation.We too are now tending to sit at a meal for a period to enjoy the hall's heat retention, in between our main need to turn all heat off. We ventilate everywhere that is possible during long periods of the day and evenings, when actively and energetically dancing. We've better anticipated and prevented heat losses as people leave in the evening, and for the last couple of years, have been enabled a little heating (even with having no longer any log fire in the grate) for final "winding down" sessions.See at the link many other regulars whose venue is the Memorial Hall: and the varied uses for its present facilities.Also, should YOU wish to hire to use its many modern features, there are details of how to download a booking form etc.cLICK on Villages of Great Alne and Kinwarton Memorial Hall

Mick Smith Radio. What began as a Leicestershire BBC local Radio Country Music Station survived closure by going on line. There are frequent shows of well presented Country Music. Deservedly it can now be enjoyed worldwide. No ads (except Midland Folk Song Club Dates).Enthusiasts may burn each part onto a 60min blank CD.Details are given of each track played. Click on "Previous Shows" and elsewhere, to explore the extensive archive.cLICK on Mick Smith Radio

Look forward to meeting Karin Bellaart from the Netherlands. Karin's Bellaart's bright, lively teaching manner is hard to improve on.At Great Alne, you can sample a whole range of different kinds of dancing:Some general International Dancing from Karin takes place EVERY day -

The INDOOR pic [as they change] above was of Nel's 2009 visit.Great Alne Long Weekend runs from -1pm F﻿ri 22nd to late afternoon Mon 25th April 2016.4 days: very varied activities. 3 Social Dance eve's -On Fri evening we'll dance in American Contra style.More general social dancing is on Sat & Sun evening, and - Each evening features its own band and caller.Look at the details above:THEN BOOK/COME & ENJOY these events.﻿VISITORS are w﻿elco﻿med at anytime -but best get to know Karin Friday afternoon, or especially on our more quiet Mon﻿day.Should it be wet out, we dance Morris & around the Maypole INDOORS.It's convivial, and we always provide a variety of different dancing.

If you have never visited before -The Long Weekend Programme at Great Alne has many similarities from year to year -This is what took place in April 2014. click HERE for 2014 pictures of clog workshop and"Elephant up a Pole" Border Morris Side. WE WELCOME THEM AGAIN THIS TIME !**********************************************************************************************************************************

Atthe Catholic Chaplain﻿cy, Harrison's Rd. B15 3QS : Our regular ve﻿nu﻿e Sunday afternoon Contra Hall.Brummie Contras: CLICK -here's its NEW WEBSITEclick on the new site to prepay for a ticket for the next dance.*********************************************﻿*******﻿****﻿*****﻿****﻿*****﻿***********************************﻿******﻿******************************

2﻿016 Brummie-Contra dates:

Appreciation needs though, to be expressed more often, and to many individuals ! Freely, contributors have given their time and their skills to allow everyone at Great Alne Long weekend to have enjoyment - on this, and on many previous occasions.Their generosity has allowed the event to be an occasion where many can come to participate -and to sample a variety of types of, and approaches to dance, song, music, and other folk activities !

There are several individual appreciations which will be added here, as time permits.

Particular thanks though, are owed to Linda and David in Great Alne.

In 1983 Linda first suggested that André organise a weekend -(Do they each maybe recollect a small caravan on Anglesey? Perhaps with some appreciative and contented amusement.)Linda and David B. have kindly hosted our visiting dance teachers from The Netherlands over many years.Charlotte kindly made her home available for dance teachers since 2012.Previously, Margaret and Jo have also done so.

SUN17thMayLisaHeywood&ECDB.-SUN28thJuneGeoffCubitt&Recursion-SUN12thJulyFrancesRichardson& Folkus Pocus -SUN6thSept LisaHeywood&TheNightBefore tbc -SUN4thOct- A NEW DATE HERE, and a caller from USA - See Mary calling at the NEW WEBSITESUN25th Oct ﻿﻿.... DETAILS AT NEW WEBSITESUN22nd Nov.... SUN20th Dec..... Enjoy ALL remaining 2015 dances at a discount. Buy 2015 Season ticket at the door.This remains VERY good value, even if you find that you miss some dances.

SEASON TICKET is an option available "at the door" - ASK !

Oversley Wood bluebells are still lovely! Do share a visit in 2016.

The Programme does have similarities from year to year.The Saturday, Sunday & Monday pages for a few weeks will first read for Karin Bellaart's visit in 2013 -until THIS years voluntary teachers can all have their participation confirmed.

(This SUMMER 2015; at the SIFD Summer School :KARIN IS TO BE TEACHING IN SWANSEA)﻿To see TIME﻿TABLES﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿WIT﻿H OUR MANY VARIED Day / Evening activities, Click on eac﻿h day:-This April - come to enjoy yet more lovely dances from Nel.﻿﻿

Sorry - Our Homepage seems permanently to have "evaporated".This to and fro' store of miscellaneous bits and pieces of information from previous years became instead (as yet) a persistently irremovable substitute.

Click on each day ABOVE to see what went on last April !

Drop by ! Be welcomed at ANY time !

Each day's detailed programme is above !Click on each day ABOVE to see what goes on!

Oversley Wood bluebells are at their best ! Do join us!

﻿﻿Eve Dance or Day visits welcomed: Gt A﻿ln﻿e 4 day ﻿Long﻿ Weekend THIS: our New Home. Contact us-HEREA lovely visit from Nel van der Laan of the Netherlands in 2015.Karin Bellaart will be similarly involved on EVERY day in 2016.Come and ENJOY.CLICK ON﻿The Friday Programme of last April﻿ CLICK ONThe Saturday Programme of last April﻿CLICK ONThe Sunday programme of last April﻿﻿﻿CLICK ON The less busy Monday Programme of last AprilView ﻿each﻿ day listed HERE ! (or above)The indoor pic above is of Nel's 2009 visit. Great Alne Long Weekend runs from -1pm on F﻿riday 22nd to late afternoon Monday 25th April 2016.4 days of very varied activities. 3 evenings of Social Dancing -Each evening will have its own band and caller.Look: then COME & ENJOY a programme like that on display.﻿VISITS w﻿elco﻿med at anytime - but best get to know Karin on our more quiet Mon﻿day.Should it become wet outside, we dance the Morris & around the Maypole INDOORS.It's convivial, and we always provide a variety of different dancing.

Especially on Saturday but also on Sunday from before noon, young and old enjoy plaiting this Maypole, the mischievous Border Morris & handbells.Saturday afternoon 1:30pm there's also an opportunity for ANY beginner music players bringing any instrument to "Join the Band".

Sorry prospective attendees - Our Homepage seems permanently to have "evaporated", only for this area of old bits and pieces of information stored from previous years to have become as yet, a persistently irremovable substitute. Each day's programme complete !Click on each day ABOVE to see what goes on!

********************************************************************************************************************************Drop by ! Be welcomed at ANY time !Pre-booking you do not need !BUT you CAN again: GET A BARGAIN NOW -our "Early Bird" Season Ticket offer: STILL HERE at £41

We suggest this extension at this time - vital to allow people to book. - Ignore present "final dates" on form. 1) Since our original homepage has entirely disappeared. (Instead total jibberish of stored oddments).2) Because - of our email reminders - a proportion seem NOT to have reached your intended inboxes !3) To allow bookings from "Contra Corners" and "Set & Turn Single" !

Drop by ! Be welcomed at ANY time !Pre-booking you do not need !BUT you CAN again:STILL GET A BARGAIN NOW -our "Early Bird" Season Ticket offer: at £41 is extended !

﻿﻿Eve Dance or Day visits welcomed: Gt A﻿ln﻿e 4 day ﻿Long﻿ Weekend THIS: our New Home. Contact us-HEREA lovely visit due from Nel van der Laan from the Netherlands.Nel is involved EVERY day. View ﻿each﻿ day's programme above!The indoor pic above is of Nel's 2009 visit. Great Alne Long Weekend runs from -1pm on F﻿riday 24﻿th to late afternoon Monday 27th April.4 days of very varied activities. 3 evenings of Social Dancing -Each evening with its own band and caller.EVERY DAY's programme is on display.﻿VISITS w﻿elco﻿med at anytime - but best get to know Nel on our more quiet Mon﻿day.We always provide a variety of different dancing. Why not -take the opportunity available shortly to BOOK FOR IT ALL as an "Early Bird".

Click the HERE above to download, but best wait for final working version (by Monday) to print.Click on the small rectangular icon at the bottom RIGHT (scroll down) of the display below, and you see it all in .......................................................................................................................................FULL SCREEN.

Click the THIS above to download, but best wait for final working version (by Monday) to print.Click on the small rectangular icon at the bottom RIGHT (scroll down) of the display below, and you see it all in .......................................................................................................................................FULL SCREEN.

It is hopedclick ﻿on THIS to print, or VIEW BELOW will be the final version -of what is to take place on FRIDAY 24thThis years details for all of the Long Weekend are completedand updated (16th April).﻿If you li﻿ke these ideas -be an Early Bird-cost is even LESS than eg just Sat & Sunday "on the door".(Take a look at the What we do! page: (also useful.)**********************************************************************************************************************************

If you have never visited before -The Long Weekend Programme at Great Alne has many similarities from year to year -This is what took place in April 2014. click HERE for 2014 pictures of clog workshop and"Elephant up a Pole" Border Morris Side. WE WELCOME THEM AGAIN THIS TIME !cLICKto see what our day & evening programmes are like.These 2014 details give you presen﻿tly ﻿the best guide as to how the 2015 event will be arranged.If you like these ideas -be an Early Bird- eg it's even LESS than just Sat & Sunday "on the door".(The What we do page is also useful.)**********************************************************************************************************************************

Thanks Considerable thanks are due to each of many helpful contributors to 32 annual Great Alne Long Weekends. Individual generosity has allowed "open exchange" of music, dance & other activities to develop, & to continue.Thus varied giving of time, skills, energy & travel, has allowed all to share in the joys of previous long weekends.

Appreciation needs though, to be expressed more often, and to many individuals ! André has been organising this event now for 32 years.It has allowed renewal of friendships with a lovely group of people. (Opportunities to be learning website skills too.)

Paul has organised the musicians; made and brought the Maypole & introduced his lovely restored handbells.

Without Paul and Nicola having fully shared all of the work -2010's very worthwhile "Great Alne" event would have been unable to take place at all.Both stepped in to the rescue when we later found suddenly with Amanda being unwell -that we had a catering crisis. It's also Pa﻿ul who has structured our committee.

2012 and future years open-up with 2 more of us enabling the event to go on!Karen facilitated "early bird" and superbly manages all of the bookings.Karen's efficiency has transformed the effectiveness of this website -she has also offered much sound advice, and written HTML for the "Prices" table.Jonathan has also made many helpful contributions.

John Pitcock keeps the Long Weekend advertised elsewhere on "the net".

The thanks of all who've participated over very many years have been, and still are due -to a relatively smaller number of most dedicated contributors.

Freely, such contributors have given their time and their skills to allow everyone at Great Alne Long weekend to have enjoyment - on this, and on many previous occasions.Their generosity has allowed the event to be an occasion where many can come to participate -and to sample a variety of types of, and approaches to dance, song, music, and other folk activities !

There are several individual appreciations which will be added here, as time permits.

Particular thanks though, are owed to Linda and David in Great Alne.

In 1983 Linda first suggested that André organise a weekend -(Do they each maybe recollect a small caravan on Anglesey? Perhaps with some appreciative and contented amusement.)Linda and David B. kindly hosted visiting dance teachers from The Netherlands.Charlotte kindly made her home available for dance teachers in 2012.In previous years, Margaret and Jo have also done so.

﻿﻿Evening Dance or Day visits welcomed: ﻿Great Alne Long Weekend: THIS is our Homepage. Contact us-HEREA lovely visit due from Nel van der Laan from the Netherlands.The indoor pic above is of Nel's 2009 visit. Great Alne Long Weekend runs from -1pm on F﻿riday 24﻿th to late afternoon Monday 27th April 2015.4 days of very varied activities. 3 evenings of Social Dancing.Friday's provisional programme is on display.﻿VISITS w﻿elco﻿med at anytime - but best get to know Nel on our more quiet Mon﻿day.We always provide a variety of different dancing. Why not -take the opportunity available shortly to BOOK FOR IT ALL as an "Early Bird".

﻿﻿Evening Dance or Day visits welcomed: ﻿Great Alne Long Weekend: THIS is our Homepage. Contact us-HEREA lovely visit due from Nel van der Laan from the Netherlandsthis April. (3 different teachers from the Netherlands in 3yrs.)Nel also visited in the indoor picture above: in 2009.Long weekend is from -Noon on F﻿riday 24﻿th to late afternoon Monday 27th April 2015.Friday's provisional programme is on display.﻿VISITS w﻿elco﻿med at anytime - but best get to know Nel on our more quiet Mon﻿day.We always provide a variety of different dancing. Why not -take the opportunity available shortly to BOOK FOR IT ALL as an "Early Bird".

A me﻿rry baker's dozen from North Holland Province in the Netherlands: the dancers -in stunning traditional costumes: shared many traditional & more recent Dutch dances. Thanks to Ineke, their superbly capable choreographer, we were challenged to join-in.﻿********************﻿******************************************************﻿**************************﻿***********************﻿﻿Click HERE for Ad's PICTURE DI﻿AR﻿Y of all their 2014 visit -A superb illustrated acco﻿unt o﻿f the group's visit to the Great Alne Long Weekend, a﻿nd ﻿of the lovely surrounding Countryside .﻿Each day & its pictures are noted both in English & Dutch. Here's how to view this:For general information about the group; clickHERE for their "﻿Page in English﻿".*********************************************************************************************************Who came to dance with us ? And to share their lovely Dutch Dances in April 2014 ?It's particularly nice be reminded of (or get to know) the individuals who came from Holland to join us -- Their wonderful costumes too. Best try alternative access to their homepage via auto-translation... it has quaint language clarity; but this gives a 'general idea' in English about each person. (Read ALL their web pages too!)For a photo of each person in the group individually - and details about them:First you need to identify the group's relevant second page. Click on this straight after "Home" -It may now show in translation as "﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Further acq﻿uainta﻿nce﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿" even oddly, as "Waunifor". So now -START 2)via "Google"﻿TRANSLATION HE﻿RE... And continue to read ALL their other interesting web pages.﻿﻿*****************************************************************************************************************************﻿﻿

********************************************************************************************************************************Drop by ! Be welcomed at ANY time !Pre-booking you do not need !BUT you CAN again: GET A BARGAIN -our "Early Bird" Season Ticket offer: likely at £41"Early Bird" (details will be on this page) in a day or so.